Rating: 
Dave’s Dog Food dry formula earns the Advisor’s second-highest rating of four stars.
The Dave’s Dog Food product line includes four kibbles… one designed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages (Simply the Best), one for growth (Puppy) and two for adult maintenance.
- Dave’s Simply the Best Dog Food
- Dave’s Naturally Healthy Puppy Food
- Dave’s Naturally Healthy Adult Dog Food
- Dave’s Naturally Healthy Senior Dog Food (3 stars)
Dave’s Naturally Healthy Adult Dog Food was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
Dave's Naturally Healthy Adult
Dry Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Lamb, chicken meal, brown rice, ground white rice, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), rice bran, tomato pomace, beet pulp, yogurt, farmer's cheese, dried skimmed milk, menhaden fish oil, canola, dried kelp, potassium chloride, dried egg product, brewers yeast, green peas, garlic powder, Yucca schidigera, choline chloride, beets, spinach, parsley, Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product dehydrated, Bacillus subtilus fermentation product dehydrated, Bifidobacterium thermophilum fermentation product dehydrated, Bifidobacterium longum fermentation product dehydrated, Enterococcus faecium fermentation product dehydrated, zinc sulphate, zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, vitamin E supplement, iron sulphate, manganese sulphate, manganese proteinate, vitamin B12 supplement, cobalt proteinate, niacin, vitamin A supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, riboflavin, copper sulphate, vitamin D supplement, cobalt carbonate, copper proteinate, thiamine mononitrate, ethylenediamine dihydriodide, pyridoxine hydrochloride, biotin, rosemary extract, folic acid and sodium selenite
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 6.1%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
The first ingredient in this dog food lists lamb. Although it is a quality item, raw lamb contains about 80% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost… reducing the meat content to just a fraction of its original weight.
After processing, this item would probably occupy a lower position on the list.
Which brings us to chicken meal… the second and (more likely) the dominant meat ingredient in this dog food.
Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate containing nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.
The third item is brown rice. Brown rice is a quality ingredient… a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) is fairly easy to digest.
The fourth item lists white rice… a less nutritious form of rice in which the grain’s healthier outer layer has been removed.
The fifth ingredient lists chicken fat. Chicken fat is obtained from rendering chicken… a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.
Chicken fat is high in linoleic acid… an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life. Although it doesn’t sound very appetizing, chicken fat is actually a quality ingredient.
The sixth item is rice bran… a by-product of rice milling. Though not as nutritionally complete as whole grain rice, brans are still unusually rich in fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals.
The seventh ingredient is tomato pomace. Tomato pomace is a controversial ingredient… a by-product remaining after processing tomatoes into juice, soup and ketchup.
Many praise tomato pomace for its high fiber and nutrient content… while others scorn it as an inexpensive pet food filler.
Just the same, there’s probably not enough tomato pomace here to make much of a difference.
The eighth item is beet pulp. Beet pulp is another controversial item… a high fiber by-product of sugar beet processing.
Some denounce beet pulp as an inexpensive filler while others cite its outstanding intestinal health and blood sugar benefits.
We only call your attention here to the controversy and believe the inclusion of beet pulp in reasonable amounts in most dog foods is entirely acceptable.
The next few items include three dairy products…
- Yogurt
- Farmer’s cheese
- Skimmed milk
The next item is menhaden fish oil… obtained from processing a species of small ocean fish known as menhaden. Like most fish oils, menhaden oil is naturally rich in omega-3 fatty acids. This item can be considered a healthy addition.
Most applaud canola for its favorable omega-3 content… while a vocal minority condemn it as an unhealthy fat.
Current thinking (ours included) finds the negative stories about canola oil more the stuff of urban legend than actual science.1
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 four notable exceptions…
First, brewers dried yeast. Brewers yeast can be a controversial item. Although it’s a by-product of the beer making process, this ingredient contains about 45% protein… and is rich in other healthy nutrients.
Fans believe yeast repels fleas and supports the immune system.
Critics argue yeast ingredients can be linked to allergies. This may be true, but (like all allergies) only if your particular dog is allergic to the yeast itself.
What’s more, a vocal minority insist yeast can increase the risk of developing the life-threatening condition known as bloat. However, this is something we’ve not been able to scientifically verify.
In any case, unless your dog is specifically allergic to it, yeast can be considered a nutritious additive.
Next, garlic can be a controversial item. Although the majority of experts favor the ingredient for its numerous health benefits, garlic (in rare cases) has been linked to Heinz body anemia in dogs.2
However, the limited professional literature we surveyed provided no definitive warnings regarding the use of garlic… especially in small amounts (as it is here).
Thirdly, the manufacturer appears to have applied friendly bacteria to the surface of the kibble after cooking. These special probiotics are used to enhance a dog’s digestive and immune functions.
And lastly, this food also 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.
Dave’s Dog Food… the Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredient quality alone, Dave’s Dog Food looks like a winning kibble.
But ingredient quality alone does not a top dog food make. It’s still beneficial to estimate the amount of meat present before arriving at a final rating.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 28%, a fat level of 17% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 48%.
Due to its apparent lower meat content, the senior formula doesn’t qualify for one of our higher categories.
Excluding that lower-rated recipe, the remaining products present an average protein content of 29% and a mean fat level of 17%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 46% for the overall product line.
Average protein. Average fat. And average carbohydrates when compared to a typical dry dog food.
Free of any plant-based protein boosters, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing moderate amount of meat.
In addition, it’s important to acknowledge the absence here of any critical Red Flag items.
Bottom line?
Dave’s Dog Food is a rice-based kibble using a moderate amount of chicken meal as its main source of animal protein… thus earning the brand four stars.
Highly recommended.
Those looking for a nice wet dog food from the same company may wish to visit our review of Dave’s Delectable Dinners.
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… or maybe the review itself? Please know… we welcome your comments.
Notes and Updates
05/18/2010 Original review
12/18/2010 Review updated
- Mikkelson, B and DP, Oil of Ole, Urban Legends Reference Pages (2005) ↩
- Yamato et al, Heinz Body hemolytic anemia with eccentrocytosis from ingestion of Chinese chive (Allium tuberosum) and garlic (Allium sativum) in a dog, Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association 41:68-73 (2005) ↩
The Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.